Not just IPL, there is also an Energy Premier League in India

Indian Express

19-07-2025

By Rahul Munjal
In 2008, cricket saw the birth of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a bold, fast-paced reinvention of the game that challenged tradition and captivated a new generation. Interestingly, that era was also marked by another audacious leap: India's early steps toward embracing clean energy. Both moves, in their own domains, signalled a shift toward innovation, risk-taking and long-term transformation.
Both ideas that challenged the tried and tested were greeted initially with scepticism. Traditionalists scoffed at the IPL's flashy format, fearing it would dilute the game's soul. Likewise, energy veterans questioned whether renewable power could ever rival the affordability and reliability of fossil-fuel power. Two decades later, the IPL and India's renewable energy sector have redefined their respective domains.
The IPL auction, for instance, is perhaps the clearest expression of how far things have come. Balancing budgets, betting on form and future, and placing bold bets on untested potential. It's remarkably similar to how we make investment decisions in clean energy: Weighing long-term returns, assessing risk, and blending proven technologies with next-generation innovations. The fact that the 2025 IPL auction went up to nearly Rs 640 crore, around four times the value from when it first started, is testimony to the sustained interest in the IPL. A similar bold approach is reflected in how tariffs for renewable power have declined. Solar bids have decreased from above Rs 10 in 2015 to around Rs 2.4 currently.
The IPL has transformed into a multibillion-dollar franchise. Owners invest in academies, brand-building and talent pipelines, and look far beyond the boundary ropes. Revenue from IPL 2025 is projected to reach nearly Rs 20,000 crore, up 30 times from around Rs 650 crore in its launch year. This evolution mirrors our journey in renewables, from isolated pilot projects to a dominant source of new power capacity addition. From a mere 3 GW two decades ago, India now boasts around 180 GW of renewables capacity (excluding hydro), giving India the distinction of having the world's fourth-largest RE capacity.
The IPL-T20 format has been synonymous with relentless innovation in cricket, which has led to its continued success and popularity. Creative rule changes, such as 'Impact Player', have sustained interest. Similarly, continuous innovations in modules, batteries and wind turbines have ensured dramatic improvements in RE power cost and reliability, ensuring sustained growth of the sector. Innovation isn't optional for either; it's crucial to survival.
Their growth trajectories speak for themselves. According to Brandirectory, the IPL's brand value has surged from $2.1 billion in 2008 to over $12 billion in 2025. In comparison, according to the IEA World Energy Investment 2025 report, India's annual renewable investments have grown from under $2 billion a decade ago to around $33 billion in 2024. These numbers aren't just impressive, they reveal what's possible when execution meets vision.
Just as teams exploit field restrictions in cricket's powerplay overs to accelerate scoring, the renewable sector must seize its own powerplay windows — policy momentum, falling tech costs, and shifting global demand. With geopolitical tensions accelerating the global pivot to energy security, we are in the midst of our most crucial innings. Talent from all corners of the cricketing world coming together elevates the IPL to a higher level. India's renewable space now has a similar global magnetism. FDI has crossed $3.5 billion, and international developers are lining up to participate in mega auctions. We've gone from domestic play to global destination.
Modern franchises are powered by data. Every delivery is dissected, every move backed by analytics. Renewable energy has followed suit. AI tools optimise wind turbine maintenance and energy dispatch. Weather models predict solar and wind output with over 95 per cent accuracy. Satellite imagery aids site selection. This is no longer a sector powered by sunshine and hope, it is driven by AI and precision.
The employment impact is no less remarkable. During tournament months, the IPL supports over 40,000 direct jobs and countless indirect jobs, whereas India's renewable sector employs 1.1 million people today and is poised to create 3.4 million jobs by 2030. This is about more than gigawatts; it's about livelihoods and inclusive growth.
What separates serial winners from also-rans isn't just talent, it's culture. Long-term orientation, disciplined systems, and a relentless commitment to excellence. That's exactly what India's renewable energy mission demands. Our 2030 target of 500 GW is a national imperative. One that calls for patient capital, policy consistency, and unshakeable conviction.
The climate clock is ticking. The global spotlight is on. Economic competitiveness, energy security, and environmental responsibility now intersect. Like finishing a match with calculated aggression, the renewable sector must execute transition with boldness and urgency.
The IPL and India's clean energy sector have shown the world that India can innovate, lead, and inspire, driven by its ingenuity.
The match is on. And India is ready to lead.
The writer is chairman and managing director of Hero Future Energies